For all who have searched the surname Carman and found the occupation
instead, this is a description. The term was also used in 17c New
York.
A carman was a driver, not a domestic coachman but more like a
delivery
driver usually working for an employer. Could possibly be
self-employed
doing general haulage with his own horse and covered cart or wagon but
these were mostly called 'carriers'.
In the particular case of the Carmen, they were formed in 1516, to
have the
monopoly of plying for hire as carriers in the City. The Company would
licence the vehicles, arrange where vehicles could stand awaiting
custom and
decide the rates to be charged. The livery colours are white and red,
and a
history of the Company (The Worshipful Company of Carmen by Eric
Bennett)
was published in 1952. Records surviving at the Guilhall Library run
from
the 1660s to the lte 20th century - the Court Minutes are the longest
run,
and some of the other records only cover very limited periods - lists
of
Freemen are only available up to the 18th Century, for example. In
later
time, a person may describe himself as a Carman, when he means that
this is
his trade, but if he is an employee within a large firm is most likely
not
to be a member of the Livery Company. The use of Carman (Master), or
Master
Carman probably indicates that the person is the proprietor of a firm
of
carriers, who may, therefore, (but not necessarily) be a member of the
Livery Company.